Featured

Colin Bonini had company this year. The Annual Operating Budget passed the Senate, but only by a 15-6 vote.  All the nos were from R's with only Cloutier, Lawson and Lopez voting for the budget.  An amendment failed that would have removed a $290,000 to the Center for Energy & Environmental Policy. The center is run by McDowell ally Dr. John Byrne. The amendment predictably failed on a straight party vote, 9 yes, 12 no.  I may have time to slog through the Epilogue Language which, as longtime legislative observers know, is often where special favors for legislators and their pet projects are buried.  However, today is not that day.

Dennis Williams can't defend himself, so he won't defend himself.  He still wants to be reelected. Anyone else see the disconnect here?  This News-Journal article lays it out there for all to see. In fact, city resident Erin Lee exposes the mayor better than I could:

Wilmington resident Erin Lee: "Why won't you show up at the debates??" Williams: "Why should I when all I will be is the punching bag. I will not get a word in because the deck is stacked against me." Lee: "If you don't have a spine and can't stand up and defend your plans and ideas for our city against a few other people, how can you say you can stand up and be a LEADER of our city?? You aren't a leader, you're a little boy."

Williams then goes on to insult her. A little boy with anger management problems and a disastrous record. The article also demonstrates how Williams takes credit for stuff that happens in the City even when he has had nothing to do with it.  As to the arts community he touts, the city's involvement has gone to hell ever since he got rid of Tina Betz, who actually knew what she was doing. The problem, though, is, he will almost certainly win reelection unless the field of challengers shrinks considerably before the primary election.  I sincerely hope that there is serious polling going on, and that the projected also-rans drop out.  I mean, let's face it, Williams has been even more disastrous than Karen Weldin Stewart. And he could well be reelected the same way that she was.

Something rare: An important bill passes and goes to the Governor.  And the sponsors threaded the needle with this one. HB 325 (Osienski), which ends the ridiculous practice of automatically granting a gun permit if a criminal background check cannot be completed in three (!) days, barely passed the Senate with a Senate Amendment, and barely passed the House for a second time.  It now goes to the Governor.  For some reason, the bleeping legislative information system no longer enables me to provide a direct link to the roll calls.  So let me point out that, in the Senate, one R voted for the bill (Cloutier) and one D voted against the bill (Ennis).  In the House, not a single R voted for the bill, and the following D's (remember their names) voted against the bill:  Andria Bennett, Lumpy Carson, Mike Mulrooney, and Trey Paradee. Oh, and yet another important bill heads to the Governor.  SS1/SB 163 (Peterson) removes the requirement that those convicted of three non-violent felonies ('Three Strikes and You're Out') automatically be sentenced to life in prison.  Several R's voted yes during yesterday's House vote, and I salute them:  Hensley, Miro, Ramone, D. Short, and Yearick.  Only one D voted no: Lumpy Carson. Oh, and one notable bill was defeated or, more accurately, didn't achieve a 2/3 supermajority vote. SB 262 (Townsend)  would have created a regulatory framework for the Uber and Lyft networks, among others. Specifically, the bill would seek  'to ensure the safety, reliability and cost-effectiveness of rides provided by Transportation Network Company Drivers within the State of Delaware and to preserve and enhance access to these important transportation options for residents and visitors to the State.'  The bill had 13 yes (the 12 D's plus Cloutier) and 8 no. One vote short of a 2/3 majority. Guess which side is getting those campaign contributions.